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The Parents Television Council Is Full Of Shit: The Playboy Club Edition

Last week, NBC cancelled The Playboy Club after only three episodes due to low ratings. The Parents Television Council celebrated the move as it resulted in the end of a show that they considered to be inappropriate for network television. Despite the fact that the show aired beyond the watershed at 10:00 PM and its content was reportedly mild compared to what you’d find on premium cable shows at the same time of day, the PTC claimed victory for their moral elite.

But what the PTC right to launch a campaign against The Playboy Club before even watching an episode? I watched all three episodes, read all the PTC’s press releases and looked up the history of the real Playboy Clubs to find out. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: Seeing Red

It’s the Sunday before Canadian Thanksgiving. I’d like to run some Canadian eye candy to lead off here but I couldn’t find anything recent. So I’ll go Brazilian instead with Cintia Dicker.

Since his death on Wednesday night, the tributes and memorials for Steve Jobs have poured in. However, perspective seems to have been completely lost. Steve Jobs might have created a powerhouse company but he’s not God. (Gawker)

The Occupy Wall Street protests are still ongoing but do you actually know what’s happening and what it’s about? (Esquire)

Fighting in hockey has been a hot issue for the last five months. However, not everyone is ready to banish fighters and fighting from the game. Even self-described pacifists think fisticuffs still have a place in the game. (Backhand Shelf)

After the jump, the latest on The Simpsons, weird original video game concepts and Party Rock is in Pyongyang tonight. Continue reading →

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Night Court: The Complete Listing Of Every Episode On The Internet

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before but I’m a huge fan of the classic NBC sitcom Night Court. I grew up watching the show and always watched it when it would occasionally pop up in reruns and syndication on TV. But thanks to the internet, you don’t have to wait for something to pop up on TV to watch it.

So through some painstaking research, I’ve managed to dig up every Night Court episode on the internet and compile them all here. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Big Money

Well, I just dropped $50 on my office hockey pool which I doubt I’m going to get back. So here’s some Jessica Lowndes to make me feel better.

Twitter is looking for new ways to earn revenue before its moment as the big social network passes. But can it be done? (New York Magazine)

Speaking of money, Stephen Harper spent the last election claiming he was the best choice for the Canadian economy. However, he hasn’t done much to prove that. (Bullion Bulls Canada)

Brett Favre is back! Well, at least he’s not back as a quarterback. He’s taken up a career as a broadcaster. (Awful Announcing)

After the jump, are you ready from some ill-advised metaphors, the latest website turned into a TV show and Clarkson’s video game trailer. Continue reading →

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Lowdown BlogCast: September 28, 2011

With the 2011-12 NHL season set to kick-off in a week’s time, we’re back with out annual Lowdown NHL season preview podcast. In this edition of the show, the boys start by picking the top fantasy hockey players for the upcoming seasons, some sleepers for the later rounds and where to draft injured players like Crosby and Kesler who will get you a point per game but might miss a significant portion of the season. The talk then turns to the alleged link between fighting and player deaths and discussion as to whether the connection is there or this is the media trying to make money without substantial evidence. Entertainment is up next as Jackie previews the new fall TV season while getting sidetracked constantly by Steve. When Steve takes over entertainment, he leads the discussion about nude celebrity self-portraits that mysteriously “leak” to the internet. After that, we’re back to hockey as the boys pick their division and conference champions and predict the individual award winners. They also talk in-depth about the playoff chances of the Flyers and Maple Leafs. At the end of the show, things go off-track again as Steve and Jackie talk about who would win in a war between zombies and vampires.

In total it’s a whopping 162 minutes of Lowdown action for you to digest. That’s nearly two-and-three-quarters hours of the classic Lowdown fun and frivolity in one podcast.

Click here to download The Lowdown BlogCast.
Click here to download the podcast quality version.

Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: In The Game

A quick plug before today’s links: We’re going to have the latest episode of the podcast online today. Since we talk about vampires near the end, it’s only appropriate that we start with Ashley Greene.

The NBA Lockout has wiped out what was supposed to be the preseason and is well on its way to taking out part of the regular season. The biggest fight the league and union will have is over the definition of basketball revenue according to Malcolm Gladwell. (Grantland)

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is an absolute legend around Lowdown HQ. Of course, he’s also popular in Italy because he’s the quintessential Italian. (Wall Street Journal)

Ron MacLean got caught at a club while drunk and shirtless? Is the picture real? (Deadspin)

After the jump, Ozzie wants a boat, a new old Twin Peaks game and why Spiderman 3 sucks. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: The Big Show

Last week was a busy week in the world. I started editing a ridiculously long Lowdown podcast. The new TV season started proper (by which I mean shows from networks other than CW started). Pre-season hockey kicked off and the Jets played a sold-out game in Winnipeg. And we were reminded that Poppy Montgomery is still around.

We all know Glee is an awful excuse for a show but have you ever really watched in depth enough to notice the depths of its ridiculousness? Someone watched the whole first season in two days so you don’t have to. (Progressive Boink)

We’ve all heard of the NFL Red Zone channel but not all of us have seen it. Apparently, it’s the greatest thing to happen to football since the invention of the forward pass. Here’s the behind the scenes story of the channel. (New York Times)

I seem to constantly be on a campaign against singers pretending to be social commentators. I do have some allies in my cause. Drew Magary recently wrote a column about how Lady Gaga isn’t really a self-help guru. (Deadspin)

After the jump, Carson Palmer’s new day job, pro wrestling’s newest stars and some special guests on the morning weather forecast. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: The Drill

I think Jackie whiffed on his choice of linkdump eye candy yesterday. A craptacular looking new movie called “I Don’t Know How She Does It” opened this weekend. While it unfortunately stars Sarah Jessica Parker, it makes up for it with Christina Hendricks. Insert easy “I don’t know how she does it” joke here.

After the recent deaths of three NHL enforcers, Chris Jones catches up with former legendary enforcer “The Grim Reaper” Stu Grimson to talk about fighting in the NHL and the Western Canada “enforcer factory.” (Grantland)

One of the best game shows on TV is Jeopardy. It hasn’t gotten that way by remaining the same though. Here’s a look at the evolution of Jeopardy over the years. (GQ)

Speaking of TV, the most important person on your favourite morning show isn’t the host(s). It’s the guy that spends 24/7 looking for the next big guest to book. (Washington Post)

After the jump, who was actually nailin’ Palin, the oddest headline of the year, and taking down the Kardashians. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: Locked In

Welcome to the start of the 2011 NFL season. Of course, there are a few other things happening today. To kick things off, here’s Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader Stephanie Smith.

Let’s start off with some 9/11 themed links. An American reporter for Al Jazeera went to Texas for a 9/11 story. He got the sort of reaction that you’d expect from Texans. (Business Insider)

Michael Moore is a controversial man but he was never more controversial than at the 2003 Oscars. Here’s his story of his life after speaking out against the war in Iraq. (The Guardian)

Pulitzer Prize winning writer Buzz Bissinger breaks down the media whoring out the 9/11 anniversary to make a quick dollar. (Philadelphia Daily News)

After the jump, get ready for some football, lots of Harrison Ford and the return of DJ Steve Porter. Continue reading →

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Entertainment Link-Off: Blockbusted

Uh oh. I’ve drawn in on the entertainment beat for Jackie. We’re all in trouble now. To make up for my interpretation of an entertainment linkdump, here’s Angela Sarafyan who stars in A Good Old Fashioned Orgy which debuts this weekend.

Writer/blogger extraordinaire Drew Magary (who is regularly linked in my linkdumps) gives his take on movie star and director clichés and how they’re always trying to seem higher brow than they actually are. (The Projector)

After the jump, the summers biggest flops, Mr. Kim Kardashian meets the man who made her famous and Captain Planet is back, bitches. Continue reading →